Social Changes And Changes In Technology Since 1900 - Essay Example

? [SOCIAL CHANGES AND CHANGES IN TECHNOLOGY SINCE 1900] Social Changes and Changes in Technology Since 1900 Industrial changes during the twentieth century led to enormous economic and social changes. As a result, many social changes have taken place since the beginning of the twentieth century. These social changes have been facilitated by changes in technology. Most people have been forced to transform their social ways because of technological advancements. This essay evaluates the relationship between social changes and changes in technology, since the beginning of the twentieth century. Development of new transport forms during the early years of the twentieth century led to a significant change of social life. By 1900, horseless carriages had been introduced to the streets of popular cities (Crossley, Lees, & Servos, 2012, p, 15). These carriages were powered either by steam or by electrical power. By 1920s, automobiles were developed, and were common in the United States of America. They became common in Germany by 1960s, and in Japan; they became common in the 1970s (Crossley, Lees, & Servos, 2012, p, 15). This led to the rise of the world’s largest corporations, which supplied livelihoods to numerous workers. People had to spend significant potions of their time working in order to earn. Also, automobiles catalysed social change because they afforded the owners new mobility, new sites for courtship and new leisure pursuits (Crossley, Lees, & Servos, 2012, p, 15). As a result of transport and industrialisation, European settlers settled in third world countries, influencing the culture of the natives significantly. Therefore, the natives adopted the European culture and science, in the name modernisation of society. Scientific evolution led to departure from the old and traditional ways to new ways of life such as photography, radio and music. For instance, European faith was introduced to various parts of the world, where the Europeans had migrated to. It is the advancement in technology that led to development of transport, which enabled the Europeans to travel to various parts of the world. As they settled in these areas, they introduced their culture, forcing the natives to abandon their traditional social ways and adopt the new settlers’ culture. International trade resulted due to further development of various forms of transport. In turn, international trade, led to an increase in growth among countries and change in lifestyles. It also contributed to poverty and the rise of slums in key cities. As people were engaged in trading, they became concerned on how they would attain more wealth through trade. As a result, they departed from their former ways of social life, which required that those who were fortunate would help the needy. In their bid to attain success in trade, rich traders suppressed the poor, and as a result, the poor built slums within the major cities that had prospered due to trade. Urbanisation greatly influenced social change during the early years of the twentieth century. For instance, native whites contributed to a larger share of the urban working class that had migrated to the cities from depressed rural areas (Rabinowitz, 1994). In urban areas, people changed their ways of life. Most of them broke away from rules and norms of traditionally expected behaviour, as they underwent social change. Urbanisation was the causal agent of rapid social change, poor urban living condition because of congestion and breakdown from social norms and increase of crime during the twentieth century (Martel, 2011, p, 13. Urbanisation, which was experienced in the twentieth century, in high rates, led to the emergence of new social issues such as child labour. People had to change their lifestyles and adapt to the new systems, where employment of minors and children was a common trend. Industrial and economic changes led to changes in modes of thought, which led to the development of new lifestyles. It should be noted that industrial and economic changes resulted from advancement in technology, during the twentieth century. For instance, due to the changes in the industrial and economic circles, people would work and earn. Women could also work. In cases where the social norms recognised a man as the bread winner of the family, this norm was broken because women could work and provide for their families. People adopted new lifestyles, different from their traditions because they were influenced by technology to deviate from their cultural norms. For instance, currently, many women have been do jobs, which only men could do before 1900, courtesy of technological advancement. During the twentieth century, significant scientific revolution took place, especially in the field of medicine. Medical advancement led to the discovery and manufacture of contraceptives. People across the globe would now control birth. This meant that people no longer feared the costly consequences of irresponsible sexual behaviour. As a result, promiscuity levels went high. Before 1900, very few, if there were any, ladies could engage in premarital sex. However, after this scientific evolution of contraceptives such as the pill, sexual irresponsibility increased. People deviated from their social and cultural traditions. This is the period when commercial sex came into the picture of today’s societies. In addition, there was a decline in marriage. Decline in marriage was catalysed by changes in social life. Females in the third world, who could not be educated and be allowed to work, had an opportunity to do so due to technological development and changes in social life. By 1959, knowledge-producing occupations had increased to 31.6 percent from 10.7 in 1900 (Preston, 2001) 52. These advances in production technology led to the change in occupational compositions of the labour force. Various people worked in shifts, against their traditional social norms. Introduction of various appliances due to technological advancement has made people to change from their traditional ways of social life to a modern way of social life. For instance, the transport and communication sector has undergone significant changes since 1900. Currently, people can interact through social media. These interactions are made easier by gadgets such as laptops, personal computers and mobile phones, among others. The television has influenced people to abandon their traditional, social ways of life. Instead, they have copied what they watch on television. As a result, courtship, marriage and other aspects of life have changed significantly. As a result of enhanced and fast communication, the world has become a global village. Interaction with people from various backgrounds has facilitated change of ideas among the communicators. Most people have been influenced to copy different cultures, and leave their culture. Transport has enabled people to travel and share with people from different social backgrounds. Some people decide to change their traditions and practice what they have learnt from others. Consequently, technology, which allows people to share with others, has contributed to social change in cases where some people decide to copy social ways of others. Social change is directly related to changes in technology. References Crossley, P. K., Lees, L. H., & Servos, J. W., 2012. Global Society: The World Since 1900. New York: Cengage Learning Press. Martel, G. , 2011. A Companion to Europe 1900-1945. Hoboken: John Wiley & Sons Pres. Preston, P. , 2001. Reshaping Communications: Technology, Information and Social Change. Thousand Oaks: SAGE Press. Rabinowitz, H. N., 1994. Race, Ethnicity, and Urbanization: Selected Essays. Columbia : University of Missouri Press. Read More